Judge, 1887-03-19 · page 13 of 16
Judge — March 19, 1887 — page 13: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page satirizes **"fashionable diseases"**—medical conditions that become socially trendy among the wealthy elite. The left column's poem mocks how rheumatism has replaced hay fever as the disease of choice among the fashionable set, suggesting that affluent people adopt illnesses as status symbols and topics of conversation. The main illustration shows a dirty child being told "You Dirty Boy!" in reference to **Pears' Soap**, a commercial product. This appears to contrast sharply with the fashionable disease theme—implying that common people need soap for actual cleanliness, while the rich manufacture imaginary ailments. The advertisements below (Perry Davis' Pain Killer and Dr. Carter Moffat's Ammoniaphore) represent patent medicines claiming to cure these fashionable conditions. The satire suggests these products exploit wealthy hypochondriacs' anxieties about status and health. Overall, Judge ridicules upper-class pretension: manufacturing diseases to maintain social standing while ignoring real hygiene needs.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE FASHIONABLE DISEASE. 's day of pride is o'er, e snuttte still and sneeze, we speak no more, For rheumatism has the floor, "And is the fash’nable disease, Full oft hay fever's victims met And did with ‘+h other condole, ey set, And s ries to forget With feast of reason, flow of soul. That time’s gone by. No more they meet line and quaif the flowing bowl. Hay fever takes a rearward seat: “fis antiquated and effe Zheumatics capture the elite, ‘And all who areon fashion’s roll. inroad it must make on the person’s optimism Who's willing that his nerves should quake, hones and joints and muscles ache, word, for fashion’s sake, in rheumatism. THE GAME OF CHESS. Twas stinging, blustering winter weather, How well [recollect the night ! When Kate and I played chess together. in the hearth-fire's light Madonna-like and rosey ; pre swift, the room was cosey, The windows frosted, silvery white, ave face resting so white and small ; race , suggesting painter's dream ; I oft recall gl: ow anxious, gay, or tender ; 1 form, complete yet slender, ette against the wall, ANNE prains Urns, ruises, Cuts, rost-bite, need frombtey, Perry Dov is? ‘ain iller is the best remedy for such Troubles. Toke a bottle home oday, You will Find if dseful. All druggists sell it. You Dirty Boy! PRICE $3, WILL LAST A LIFE TIME, SEND FOR aneace PAD} DR. CARTER MOFFAT’S — [resraiouats |AMMONIAPHON on receipt of post card, “HISTORY OF THE AMMONIAPHONE,” showing how thousands have been immediately relieved and Promptly and permanently cured of FREE HAY FEVER, | The Nose, Throat, ASTHMA, CONSUMPTION, Chest, and BRONCHITIS, ! and affections of | Bronchial Tubes, By stlatin of Ari aan Ar, pdsca Dr: Can Mornar one aren, Over 0/0 nutramers Recommended by "ike ofa of B10) one reccived tay bo sara asthe Com ed reports received may "s Reomey yeriity of the ¢ Ammranlanbone i daly demonstrated ‘ty the Companyn Medical Adve, answer any loqairies, either pervonal ‘AMERICAN AMMONIAPHONE Ct Ch, Lure, 30 E Vm Sr, New Yorn,